40 days of devotions - trinitylife.org

40 DAYS OF DEVOTIONSScriptures & Prayer

ONE FRIEND, ONE NEIGHBOR, ONE LIFE CHANGED.

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40 DAYS OF DEVOTIONS Scriptures & Prayer

With Bold Faith behind us, NOW it’s time to GO!

Please join us in our prayer journey as we begin our efforts to pay down our debt and reach farther and wider into connecting people to Christ. Each day for 40 days, we will

read Words from our God, pray as one in spirit with members of our congregation, reflect on what we’ve read and seek God’s guidance in how we can apply it in our lives.

As we pray, let us remember that God has sovereignly ordained the corporate praying of a church, such that His mighty workings increase

exponentially. What an awesome God we have that He hears us!

SCRIPTURE

Read the verse based on the theme of the week.

REFLECTION

Reflect on the day’s verse and prayer and write your thoughts on the lines

provided.

PRAYER

Join the prayer writer and others in praying the day’s prayer from the

comfort of your own home or wherever you choose.

APPLICATION

Seek God’s guidance in how you can join others in giving generously toward Trinity’s vision and bringing your ONE

and others to Christ. Add these ideas to your reflection that day.

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The Beauty of PrayerPrayer is:

• A reflection of a relationship with God.

• Formal or informal, quiet thoughts or spoken words, general or specific, anguished cries or joyful praises, profoundly wonderful.

• An amazing privilege and responsibility.

• Equally simple (just a conversation with God) and yet complex (miraculously praying to the FATHER, through the SON and in the HOLY SPIRIT).

• Sinful people speaking to God Himself because Jesus broke the barrier for us.

• More about surrendering ourselves to God rather than communicating our agenda to Him.

• Reveals our faith in God, not our faith in prayer itself.

• Often a last resort. Don’t let this happen. Go to God in EVERYTHING.

• When done often as a believer, it’s as natural as breathing.

Prayer allows us to:

• Talk to the God of Heaven, Creator of everything, and He truly listens to us!

• Tell God what He already knows.

• Have our very own personal words enter the throne room of Almighty God.

• Draw near to God as He draws near to us.

• Share with our Father even if this means the Holy Spirit intervening for us when our groanings are too deep for human words.

• Establish a relationship with our Lord.

• Utilize the unlimited resources of God, not the limited ones of this world.

• Acknowledge we do not have what we need in our own strength but can even

“move mountains” with the strength we receive from God.

• Connect with our Creator.

• Look beyond ourselves to God who knows more and can do more than we could ever imagine!

• Express our dependence on God. The more we pray, the more we seek God’s attentive, active interest and involvement in our lives.

• Pour out our hears to God, confess our sins and ask Him honest questions.

• Never be alone, hopeless or powerless.

When we pray, God:

• Loves it! He wants to spend time with the children He created. He’s the author of relationships.

• Listens and answers in His perfect timing.

• Is accessible to us despite Him being exalted above us in every possible way.

• Speaks through His Word, creation, our circumstances, other people and through the Holy Spirit.

• Utilizes all three parts of the Godhead as they actively engage with us.

• Molds our hearts to higher and better ways, continuously desiring for us to be more like Christ.

• Never finds our requests too insignificant or too big to handle.

• Never stops working for us even if we find His answers too slow in coming or not answered.

• Is not offended or surprised and never turns us away. Remember, God is our Father.

Let’s Never Stop Praying!

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WEEK 1 REFLECTION

GO Forward

Bible reading: EXODUS 3:1-10Imagine for a moment that God spoke to you out of a bush in your backyard to invite you to be part of his work in the world. It would be a most startling, disruptive encounter.

God met Moses in a burning bush to tell him that he was sending Moses to Egypt to set his people free. When Moses focused on his perceived inadequacies and inabilities, God assured Moses that he would be with him and give him all he needed to carry out the mission for God’s glory. By going in obedience, Moses and the people of Israel experienced deliverance and saw the power of God. Even still, their journey wasn’t easy. They struggled to believe, and they blatantly disobeyed. They even wanted to return to slavery in Egypt. God continued to call them to GO forward into God’s preferred future so he could bless them as his holy people in the Promised Land.

We believe God wants our full attention. God wants to meet each of us in the ordinary circumstances of our lives and invite us into his extraordinary ministry of setting people free. God wants to use us to connect people to Christ so they will know God’s love and find their purpose in their relationship with him. It’s not easy work, and we might find ourselves in some uncomfortable situations. But let’s face it, when we settle into the familiar and strive for comfort, we rarely see the work of God. Let’s commit together to GO forward for God’s glory.

For reflection and discussion:

• Talk about some of the most meaningful things you’ve ever done. Were they easy? Comfortable?

• What would God do in you and through you if you stepped out in faith?

• What prevents you from being fully involved in God’s mission? What excuses, inadequacies, and limitations come to mind?

• What are some of the needs you see in your school, workplace, neighborhood, and community? What would it look like for you and your family to take a small step toward addressing one of those needs?

• Who is your one? What is keeping your one from Jesus? From a connection with a church? How can you help your one take one step closer to Trinity and to Jesus this week?

• What does Trinity’s move into our new building mean to you? What opportunities does it present?

• What do you need to know about GO? Who can answer your questions?

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DAY 1 – APRIL 11

Bill & Nancy Aken

2 CORINTHIANS 2:14-16 “But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are an aroma that brings death: to the other, an aroma that brings life. And who is equal to such a task?”

Dear Heavenly Father, you have done amazing things for me. I thank you for always surrounding me like an unseen pleasing aroma. Please help me GO spread your message to those who do not yet know and feel your love. May Trinity be a place where others can come to know your constant love and salvation. I ask this in the name of your precious Son, Jesus. Amen.

Personal Reflection:

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DAY 2 – APRIL 12

Chase & Kayla Florom

MATTHEW 28:19-20 19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Lord God, thank you for your faithfulness in my life. I pray that as you sent the disciples into their community, you would send me into mine. Give me the boldness to share your name to those in my life who need to hear the story of your abounding grace. Give me the wisdom to train others up to become your disciples. Give me the perseverance to obey you in the big things and in the little things. Help me to remember that you are always with me. Amen.


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DAY 3 – APRIL 13

Donn & Claire Keogh

EXODUS 3One day Moses was tending the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian. He led the flock far into the wilderness and came to Sinai, the mountain of God. 2 There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a blazing fire from the middle of a bush. Moses stared in amazement. Though the bush was engulfed in flames, it didn’t burn up. 3 “This is amazing,” Moses said to himself. “Why isn’t that bush burning up? I must go see it.”

4 When the Lord saw Moses coming to take a closer look, God called to him from the middle of the bush, “Moses! Moses!”

“Here I am!” Moses replied.

5 “Do not come any closer,” the Lord warned. “Take off your sandals, for you are standing on holy ground. 6 I am the God of your father—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” When Moses heard this, he covered his face because he was afraid to look at God.

7 Then the Lord told him, “I have certainly seen the oppression of my people in Egypt. I have heard their cries of distress because of their harsh slave drivers. Yes, I am aware of their suffering. 8 So I have come down to rescue them from the power of the Egyptians and lead them out of Egypt into their own fertile and spacious land. It is a land flowing with milk and honey—the land where the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites now live. 9 Look! The cry of the people of Israel has reached me, and I have seen how harshly the Egyptians abuse them. 10 Now go, for I am sending you to Pharaoh. You must lead my people Israel out of Egypt.”

11 But Moses protested to God, “Who am I to appear before Pharaoh? Who am I to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt?” (Continued on Day 4)

Dear Lord,

Who am I to carry out such an important task? I’m a child of God, that’s who! Open my eyes and ears to opportunities you place in front of me. Those nudges felt within, help me to act on those gentle pushes you provide at just the right time. Rather than looking back and wondering how many messages I’ve missed or ignored, help me to be present with your eyes, ears, and heart. Help me to GO and spread the good news through my words, actions, and behavior. Help me to trust that you have equipped me with all. Amen.

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DAY 4 – APRIL 14

Matthew & Sarah Pearson

EXODUS 3 (Continued from Day 3)

12 God answered, “I will be with you. And this is your sign that I am the one who has sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God at this very mountain.”

13 But Moses protested, “If I go to the people of Israel and tell them, ‘The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,’ they will ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what should I tell them?”

14 God replied to Moses, “I am who i am.[d] Say this to the people of Israel: I am has sent me to you.” 15 God also said to Moses, “Say this to the people of Israel: Yahweh,[e] the God of your ancestors—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you.

This is my eternal name, my name to remember for all generations.

16 “Now go and call together all the elders of Israel. Tell them, ‘Yahweh, the God of your ancestors—the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—has appeared to me. He told me, “I have been watching closely, and I see how the Egyptians are treating you. 17 I have promised to rescue you from your oppression in Egypt. I will lead you to a land flowing with milk and honey—the land where the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites now live.”’

18 “The elders of Israel will accept your message. Then you and the elders must go to the king of Egypt and tell him, ‘The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us. So please let us take a three-day journey into the wilderness to offer sacrifices to the Lord, our God.’

19 “But I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go unless a mighty hand forces him. 20 So I will raise my hand and strike the Egyptians, performing all kinds of miracles among them. Then at last he will let you go. 21 And I will cause the Egyptians to look favorably on you. They will give you gifts when you go so you will not leave empty-handed. 22 Every Israelite woman will ask for articles of silver and gold and fine clothing from her Egyptian neighbors and from the foreign women in their houses. You will dress your sons and daughters with these, stripping the Egyptians of their wealth.”

Heavenly Father, You are the Lord and giver of life. All we have is from you. God, you are beyond our comprehension and understanding yet we sit in awe and wonder at who you are. We say with the Angels Holy, Holy, Holy. For there is none other than you that is Holy and worthy of worship and praise. Lord, you know we are not Holy but instead you declare

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us Holy despite our sin and countless times of turning away from you. Yet, for some reason, Holy God, you call us and send us as your people into the unknown and into risky situations just like you sent Moses to GO proclaim you to Egypt. Lord, without you, our efforts would be futile so we trust that you will make a way where it seems there is no way. God, we ask for boldness in our going and even in our not knowing. We always want the destination, directions, and the final plans revealed to us before we GO, but give us faith to listen to the simple call to GO and give us feet that move, hands that act, and hearts of courage. Wherever you call us, Lord, we are ready to listen and obey. Give me faith where it is lacking and sustain me as you lead Lord. Amen.


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DAY 5 – APRIL 15

Arlyn & Peggy Montgomery

GENESIS 12:1 Abram, later renamed Abraham, obeyed God’s voice when He told him to “Go to the land that I will show you.” That new home was a thousand miles away! What is extraordinary is that Abram went without knowing where he was going. This is the kind of faith that pleases God, the kind he wants us to exercise today. Abram found that we do not always need to know where we are going if we know whom we are following.

Gracious Lord God, help me follow Abram’s example to follow you even if I do not know where you are leading me. Remind me of times I prayed that you would show me the way you wanted me to go or the action you wanted me to take and you revealed your will. Help me trust that because you consider me your child, you welcome my petitions.

Be with our Trinity family as we delight in inviting others to worship with us in our beautiful new worship center. Help each of us to find a way to consciously make visitors feel welcome. Let us also view our physical church as a facility which prepares us to go into the world to witness to and serve others.

We thank you for all those you placed in our lives who have introduced us to you and guided us to come to know and love you. Use us to do the same for those in our lives who do not yet have a relationship with you. Equip us to strengthen our resolve to prayerfully consider how we can help make heaven crowded. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.


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DAY 6 – APRIL 16

Pastor Dave & Amy Parrish

GENESIS 12:1-3 “The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”

EXODUS 3:10-12Come, I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.” But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?” He said, “But I will be with you, and this shall be the sign for you, that I have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.”

Generous God, you bless us to be a blessing to others. So often you call us to leave what is comfortable and familiar to follow you to places we’d rather not go. We prefer to stay where we are. We focus on what we cannot do instead of envision what you will do in and through us. We do things on our own schedule and in our own strength rather than stepping out in faith equipped with your strength and presence. We put our preferences ahead of your priorities. In doing so, we miss the new things that you want to do. As we follow you in obedience, show us your glory and strengthen our faith. Help us look beyond what we think we cannot do to see what you are going to do. Remind us that you are always with us in the journey. Enable us to anticipate with hope the many ways that you will connect people to Christ as we joyfully and obediently follow you. As you have blessed us, may we be a blessing to many others. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.


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DAY 7 – APRIL 17

Billy & Candy Williams

JOHN 14:12 “Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.”

JOHN 14:15 “If you love me, keep my commands.”

Dear Lord, “If you love me, keep my commands.” That is such a big order, one that I fall short of every minute of my life. Help me to see that you are really telling me that if I truly believe in you – and I do – then it is my love for you and, more importantly, your awesome love for me that will make me want to share this wonderful news with those around me. And I will do so in both my words and my actions. Help me to be secure in my heart that YOU are my safe place and to GO and show this to those around me so that they, too, will feel the safe harbor of your love.


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WEEK 2 REFLECTION

GO Make a Difference

Bible reading: LUKE 9:51-56Jesus remained focused on his mission throughout his time on earth. Many people tried to get Jesus to meet their expectations for him, but Jesus lived steadfastly for his calling to introduce the Kingdom of God and to complete his work of saving the world. In today’s reading from Luke 9, we see Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. For Jesus, the journey to Jerusalem meant obedience, sacrifice, and ultimately crucifixion. For us, Jesus’ journey to Jerusalem means hope, forgiveness, salvation, and reconciliation with God and others. Knowing what lay ahead, Jesus was resolved, determined, and committed to complete his work as Savior of the world. He did not let rejection, distraction, or discomfort deter him from completing his mission.

Trinity has set our eyes to GO make a difference by connecting people to Christ – one person at a time. We are determined to do whatever is necessary to help our community know and experience the hope, forgiveness, salvation, and reconciliation with God and others for which Jesus gave his life. We will face distraction. We will encounter closed doors and closed hearts. God will call us to set aside our time, our comfort, and our treasures for his mission. How will you respond when these things happen?

Jesus set his eyes on Jerusalem and surrendered all he had to carry out God’s mission in his life. Let’s respond with similar resolute determination so we can GO make a difference in our world.


• Think about someone you know who lives with a great deal of determination. How does that person tune out distraction and rejection to stay focused on his or her priorities?

• How did you become connected to Christ? Share the story, including some of the key people and events involved in your story.

• Who needs to hear your story? How might your story encourage someone else?

• In Luke 9, the disciples wanted to call down fire from heaven when a village did not welcome them. Jesus rebuked them and simply moved on. How do you handle rejection?

• What do you find exciting about Trinity’s mission (connecting people to Christ)? What do you find difficult and/or intimidating?

• What distracts you from connecting people to Christ?

• What would it look like for you to follow Jesus resolutely?

• What’s one hard thing God is calling you to do this week?

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DAY 8 – APRIL 18

Schyler Cruse

MATTHEW 5:43-47 43 “You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy. 44 But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! 45 In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike. 46 If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. 47 If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that.

Dear Lord, thank you for your steadfast love. While we are easily distracted by the things of this world, you never leave us nor forsake us. Help us to GO and make a difference by sharing your love with those around us. You call us to love our neighbors as ourselves. Help us to remember that our neighbors are made in your image, just as we are. That we are all your children, whom you love. Thank you that you send the rains on the just and the unjust, that you provide for all people. We ask that you would open our hearts to have the same compassion for all our neighbors — including our enemies and those who persecute us. Right now, we lift up those whom we hold bitterness towards. We ask that you would transform our hearts to be more like yours, that we would have love for these people. We are not perfect, but we thank you for sending us an example of your perfection in your son, Jesus. Help us to be more like Him every day as we grow in your love, and empower us to GO make a difference in the world around us each day. Amen.


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DAY 9 – APRIL 19

Andrew & Brittany Fahrenkrog

LUKE 6:40 A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher.

The main point is that we must have a growth mindset. Spiritually together we can grow as we move from student to teacher. This allows us to grow in community as we join together to make a difference in others’ lives. It can make a positive chain reaction. God loves both the teacher and student but expects us to expand our faith. No better way than to enhance someone else’s journey! No one is above the other regardless of where they are at in their journey. God provides us all things including our intellect, tools, and resources. All of those can be combined to make a difference in our families, church and wonderful community. Now GO and make a difference!

Dear Lord, please let us possess a growth mindset in gaining knowledge of your generous love. Whether we are student or teacher in our journey, show us your plan for us to cultivate your grace. Provide the confidence to GO make a difference in our church and community. Let us be comfortable in not knowing all the answers but have confidence YOU will support us throughout our journey. Let us challenge ourselves to grow every day. Be fruitful with our precious resources fulfilling our mission to GO and serve the Lord. Thank you, Lord, for all you do. In your mighty name we pray. AMEN!


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DAY 10 – APRIL 20

Rick & Brittany Friesen

MATTHEW 16:1515 And then he told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.

Loving heavenly Father, we thank you for guiding us to go out and proclaim your word and tell others about your love and your son, Jesus. Please help keep us centered and our eyes open to the path you have for us. Continue to help and guide us to go out into our community, just as your disciples did, and share your love. Give us the words to make a difference and bring more people to know you on a more intimate level. Please help us to walk by faith and trust that you are in total control. Amen.


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DAY 11 – APRIL 21

Tom & Lindsay Grady

1 TIMOTHY 6:17-1917 Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment. 18 Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others. 19 By doing this they will be storing up their treasure as a good foundation for the future so that they may experience true life.

Dear Lord,

As believers, please give us the strength and fortitude to focus on God, the One who provides for our family and blesses us with special moments to share. Help to keep the sacrifice of your only Son ever-present as we venture into the world and interact with others. May your light shine through us, onto the people we encounter in our lives.

Lord, help us to fix our minds on the Hope and Trust your great promise provides, not material things or the weight of our sins as we know our faith in You will save us.

Help us to focus our minds on doing good works that mimic your ways, Lord, to be more Christ-like, to draw closer to You and the people you want us to be by sharing your name and your word by our words and actions.

Lord, giver of all, please continue to guide us, as your children and disciples, that we may share all the wonderful splendors of your promise. In your name we pray, Amen.


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DAY 12 – APRIL 22

Kevin, Jean, Jason & Jack Peterson

MATTHEW 5: 13-1613 You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless.

14 You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. 15 No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.

Dear Heavenly Father, please help us sprinkle kindness across our community by turning our attention away from ourselves and highlighting the beautiful qualities in one another. Fill us with hope, joy, and love so we can be a positive influence to those around us. Help us to stand out as Christ followers so others will thirst for you and your Word. O Savior, let us be your light. Please uncover the radiance that is within us, so it can shine the truth of your love wherever we go. We pray that your light shines through our words and actions, as we connect people to Christ. Let us illuminate the world by spreading love, serving others, and fostering peace . Help us GO and make a difference. To you, we give our glory! Amen.


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DAY 13 – APRIL 23

Doug & Paulette Pikop

MATTHEW 11:28-30Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”

Gracious loving God, as I come to You in prayer, I am reminded of Your faithful servant, Matilda, who I know asks You for guidance every day. She calls upon Your name to reside in her heart that she may be a witness for You as she invites others to know You and love You as Lord and Savior.

As Matilda does, let each of us come to You in prayer and thanksgiving for all You have given to us. Your words from Matthew 11: 28 - 30, help us to hear Your encouragement, “ ... ..For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”

You free us from our sin and weariness. Help us to know with all certainty, that You, Jesus, give us Your love and forgiveness. Give us strength and conviction to share Your Good News with others we encounter in our daily lives. Help us to be bold in proclaiming Your victory over sin and death and not be shy in telling others of Your goodness and mercy.

Help us, Lord Jesus, to connect others to You. Amen.


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DAY 14 – APRIL 24

Marcus & Kathy Schmidt

MATTHEW 5:14-1614 “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. 15 No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.

Dear Heavenly Father,

You created us to go into the world and make it a better place. Our new mission outpost is on a hill and cannot be hidden. In the same way, our own light that comes from You must be shared. Help us be that light to all who surround us, especially in our community of Papillion and the surrounding area. Help us go into the world and make a difference by spreading light and love as Your ambassadors. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, show us the way to connect our “one” person to Christ.

In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.


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WEEK 3 REFLECTION

GO Generously

Bible reading: CORINTHIANS 9:6-15Generosity and caring for the needs of others have been part of the Christian story from the very start. In Acts 2, the followers of Jesus in the early church pooled their resources and sold their property and possessions to help anyone who had need. In 2 Corinthians 8 and 9, we find the Apostle Paul sharing instructions with the church in Corinth for their participation in a regional collection that will help distressed believers in Jerusalem. The call to GO generously was a natural component of life together in the early church.

Generosity doesn’t come naturally to many of us. It’s easy to think that we work hard for what we have, that we deserve nice things, and that it all belongs to us. In contrast, the Bible tells us that the earth is the Lord’s and everything in it (Psalm 24:1, NIV). Did you catch that? It all belongs to God! All that we have is a gift from God that he entrusts to us. When you GO generously, you give time and resources back to God with gratitude and awareness of all that God has given to you. In God’s economy, generosity comes with a promise. If you sow generously, you will reap generously. And your generosity will lead others to give thanks to God!


• When has someone else’s generosity been a blessing to you?

• What resources do you have (time, skills, possessions, relationships, finances, etc.)?

• Do you own your possessions or do your possessions own you?

• What was your family’s attitude about money and finances when you were growing up?

• What does money mean to you? Is it primarily status, security, enjoyment, or control?

• How do you feel when the topic of money comes up at home? At work? At church?

• How are finances a part of a life of following Jesus?

• What’s one way you will GO generously to serve others in your home, school, workplace, or neighborhood this week?

• How is God inviting you to participate in Trinity’s ministry to love God? To grow community? To serve others?

• How will you show generosity to your one this week?

• How is God inviting you to respond to the GO campaign? Have a conversation with God about your commitment to GO.

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DAY 15 – APRIL 25

Mark & Debbie Erikson

2 CORINTHIANS 8 8 Now I want you to know, dear brothers and sisters, what God in his kindness has done through the churches in Macedonia. 2 They are being tested by many troubles, and they are very poor. But they are also filled with abundant joy, which has overflowed in rich generosity.

3 For I can testify that they gave not only what they could afford, but far more. And they did it of their own free will. 4 They begged us again and again for the privilege of sharing in the gift for the believers in Jerusalem. 5 They even did more than we had hoped, for their first action was to give themselves to the Lord and to us, just as God wanted them to do.

6 So we have urged Titus, who encouraged your giving in the first place, to return to you and encourage you to finish this ministry of giving. 7 Since you excel in so many ways—in your faith, your gifted speakers, your knowledge, your enthusiasm, and your love from us[c]—I want you to excel also in this gracious act of giving.

8 I am not commanding you to do this. But I am testing how genuine your love is by comparing it with the eagerness of the other churches.

9 You know the generous grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty he could make you rich.

10 Here is my advice: It would be good for you to finish what you started a year ago. Last year you were the first who wanted to give, and you were the first to begin doing it. 11 Now you should finish what you started. Let the eagerness you showed in the beginning be matched now by your giving. Give in proportion to what you have. 12 Whatever you give is acceptable if you give it eagerly. And give according to what you have, not what you don’t have. 13 Of course, I don’t mean you’re giving should make life easy for others and hard for yourselves. I only mean that there should be some equality. 14 Right now you have plenty and can help those who are in need. Later, they will have plenty and can share with you when you need it. In this way, things will be equal. 15 As the Scriptures say,

“Those who gathered a lot had nothing left over, and those who gathered only a little had enough.”

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2 CORINTHIANS 8 (Continued)

Titus and His Companions

16 But thank God! He has given Titus the same enthusiasm for you that I have. 17 Titus welcomed our request that he visit you again. In fact, he himself was very eager to go and see you. 18 We are also sending another brother with Titus. All the churches praise him as a preacher of the Good News. 19 He was appointed by the churches to accompany us as we take the offering to Jerusalem—a service that glorifies the Lord and shows our eagerness to help.

20 We are traveling together to guard against any criticism for the way we are handling this generous gift. 21 We are careful to be honorable before the Lord, but we also want everyone else to see that we are honorable.

22 We are also sending with them another of our brothers who has proven himself many times and has shown on many occasions how eager he is. He is now even more enthusiastic because of his great confidence in you. 23 If anyone asks about Titus, say that he is my partner who works with me to help you. And the brothers with him have been sent by the churches, and they bring honor to Christ. 24 So show them your love, and prove to all the churches that our boasting about you is justified.

Gracious Lord Jesus, Create in me a clean heart – a giving and compassionate heart - Oh God. Renew a right spirit within me – the spirit of putting others’ needs before my own. Cast me not away – when I too quickly avoid or say NO to stewardship opportunities. Help me change my NO to GO … GO generously. Go genuinely.

I need to build key habits that will change me Boldly. Change my attitude towards sharing my time, talents and treasures.

Too often I hear, but don’t listen. See, but overlook the obvious.

When asked to share, too frequently my default reply is NO. Help me flip my NO to – Let’s GO. Let’s GO boldly.

Restore to me the joy – of giving generously. Uphold me with your free Spirit.

Lord, Hear my Prayer.

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24 25


DAY 16 – APRIL 26

Rob & Connie Lamp

JOHN 15:5-195 “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. 6 Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. 7 But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! 8 When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.

9 “I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. 10 When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. 11 I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! 12 This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. 13 There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me. 16 You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name. 17 This is my command: Love each other.

18 “If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first. 19 The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you.

Heavenly Father, I thank you for the word which is the absolute truth and I know that it will not return to you void, but will accomplish what it says it will do. “You are the vine and we are the branches and those who remain in you and you in them will produce much fruit. For apart from you we can do nothing.” Father let the joy of your presence shine through me and open my eyes to see the people around me the way you do. Let the seeds planted take root and grow for your glory. You are a generous Father and everything we have is a gift from you. Teach us, Lord, to be generous to serve you as you deserve.

In Jesus precious name I pray.

Amen.

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26 27


DAY 17 – APRIL 27

Paul & Linda Perez

DEUTERONOMY 8:1818 Remember the Lord your God. He is the one who gives you power to be successful, to fulfill the covenant, he confirmed to your ancestors with an oath.

Father, your word tells us that you knit together and created each one of us to live in the world at just this time. All around we see the beauty of nature that you also created for us to enjoy. We are so grateful to you. Help us to remember, that as you brought us into the lives we have, you have also given each of us unique gifts, talents, skills, experiences and opportunities to serve you. You have brought friendships into our lives to help us learn and grow, and to counsel with us when we’ve made mistakes. Through the Holy Spirit, you have given us the power to use all that we have been given to bring, as it is in Heaven, to the earth. Precious Lord, we humbly ask that you provide the discernment and wisdom we need to wisely steward all that we have been given. We want to serve you correctly with any monetary wealth that you have allowed us to acquire, remembering that all we have belongs to you, to You first. Show us clearly the needs of others less fortunate that we can be your hands and feet. We are reminded in scripture to give generously, cheerfully and quietly so that the poor in wealth and spirit understand that anything given to them is from you alone. Thank you, Jesus, for your saving grace and the hope we have in you. Amen.


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DAY 18 – APRIL 28

Craig & Donna Scherzberg

ROMANS 8:3232 Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else?

Dear God, You came to save a lost mankind. You have made known and earned salvation for every sinner. Give us the power to proclaim this truth to all who will listen including our ONE. Let the Holy Spirit give us and guide us in the words used for proclaiming our salvation. In this endeavor, give us the wisdom to use the many blessings given to us. Grant us courageous giving of our financial blessings to further the kingdom of God, connecting people to Christ. Amen


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DAY 19 – APRIL 29

Marty & Connie Scherzberg

2 CORINTHIANS 9:6-12

The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. As it is written, “He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.” He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness.

“Our Heavenly Father, Name above all names, please open our hearts to give as graciously and as generously as you have given to us. You sacrificed Your best, Lord, the life of Your precious and only Son, all for us. Now, may we, as Your children, also give of our best, and may we remember that even this best was first given to us by You.

Yes, You ask us to give of ourselves, our time, our money, our talents and our spiritual gifts. Help us to do that with a loving and cheerful heart, Lord. Let us see the financial need of this church and give generously so that our focus can then be wholeheartedly placed on bringing others to Christ.

Let us use these spiritual gifts you’ve provided each of us to boldly proclaim the Good News of Jesus, whether it be to a loved one or a total stranger. All are precious in Your sight. Let us see each person as Your child and as a person with whom we want to share eternity, Lord. Help us realize our words could be the ones needed for that person to recognize Jesus as Savior. Please use the Holy Spirit inside each of us to find those words and to proclaim them with love, hope and affirmation.

Help us to sow bountifully, Lord, so that upon our entry into Heaven, we may witness one of the most glorious of sights …. all those lives we found important enough to share the BEST NEWS the world has ever known…the free gift You offer, Our Savior, Jesus! Thank you for this gift, Lord, and help us GO and tell Your Story so that others may know You as we know You!

In His Mighty Name we pray. Amen.”

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30 31


DAY 20 – APRIL 30

Dan & Cindy Sommer

DEUTERONOMY 8:17-18“Otherwise you may say in your heart, ‘My power and the strength of my hand made me this wealth.’ But you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who is giving you our power to make wealth, that He may confirm His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day. “

Father, we know that everything we have, whether it be a strength or spiritual gift, comes from You. We pray we recognize that the fruits of all our efforts flow from these strengths and gifts, and that we always use these gifts to bless others and to give glory to You. Since none of us can do all things, You have chosen each person to use their talents in their own special way. You have blessed the people at Trinity in so many different ways and allowed us to go forward with our new building, even during this difficult time. So many members have been faithful stewards of their time, talents and money to further this effort and to continue our mission both locally and across the globe. We pray that we will be bold in extending invitations to others to join us, especially our “ones,” so that they can be part of our community of believers. Lord, we thank You for the ability to use all that You have given us to make Trinity a welcoming place to worship You and fellowship with other believers. We ask this in Jesus name. Amen.


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DAY 21 – MAY 1

Chuck & Donna Wilcox

MATTHEW 19:16-22 & MATTHEW 6:19-21 A man in the crowd asked Jesus, “…what good thing must I do to obtain eternal life?” At length, Jesus responded, “If you wish to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” We are told that the young man went away, “… grieved; for he was one who owned much property.” He went away. He was grieved. He had missed the point. Jesus was telling him that happiness, or satisfaction, or even eternal life does not come from amassing great piles of stuff. Earlier in Matthew we find Jesus saying, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth… For wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will be, also.” Loving earthly stuff can be an anchor that keeps us from acting when we need to act. The Gaither Vocal Band has a popular song called “Give it Away.” You should look it up in YouTube. It’s one of the most joyous songs I know. In the chorus we hear: If you want more happy than your heart will hold, if you want to stand taller if the truth were told, take whatever you have, and give it away. If you want less lonely and a lot more fun and deep satisfaction when the day is done, then throw your heart wide open and give it away.

Gracious Heavenly Father, You have blessed us with so many things: Life, love, health, talents, and yes, stuff. For these and all your many blessings, we are truly thankful. Bless us, also, with a generous spirit. A spirit that releases us from loving our earthly stuff, and replaces it with the joy of feeling your pleasure. Help us to “give it away.” In Jesus’ Name, WE PRAY. Amen.


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WEEK 4 REFLECTION

GO All In

Bible reading: PHILIPPIANS 2:5-11 & MATTHEW 10:37-39The teachings of Jesus are full of surprises and apparent contradictions. Think about some of the following things that Jesus said and modeled. If you want to be first, strive to come in last. If you seek blessing, you might find it through mourning and persecution. If you want to be free, live in obedience to God. If you want to be great, be a servant. If you want to have much, give away what you have. If you want to find your life, lose it for the sake of Jesus.

Jesus demonstrated what it means to live a fully human life as God intended for us to live. He lived in constant awareness of his relationship with the Father, he lived for the values of the Kingdom of God, and he surrendered his life completely to God’s will. Jesus’ all-in commitment to the will of the Father cost him his life. The Good News is that his obedience brought about the salvation of the world for the glory to God. The surprising part is that it also brought him joy along with glory and honor.

The path to blessing in the kingdom of God is to GO All In in your life as a follower of Jesus. That means that you and all of the rest of us will find God’s richest blessing when you Go All in with your commitment to God and the ministry of the church. It won’t be easy. It will likely come with cost and sacrifice. But the promise of Jesus is this: you’ll find your truest self when you lose yourself in the Kingdom of God.


• Imagine what God would do in our area if all of us went all in for the purpose of connecting people to Christ. What do you see? What image comes to your mind?

• Everyone has something to contribute to God’s work at Trinity: the old and the young, the weak and the strong, the rich and the less well off. What gifts, talents, and finances do you contribute to God’s work?

• What does an all-in commitment to Jesus look like for you and your family? What excites you? What holds you back?

• What’s your biggest challenge about going all in for the sake of the Kingdom of God? What do you have a hard time letting go of? What would it look like to surrender this area to God?

• What inspires you about the life and teachings of Jesus? What challenges you?

• Take some time to thank Jesus for his willingness to GO All In. Ask him what he wants you to surrender to him.

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DAY 22 – MAY 2

Sharon Bernady

GALATIANS 2:2020 My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So, I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Lord, please help me to be ALL IN for You! I ask you to send your Holy Spirit to guide me in my life ... I want to be a reflection of you and I want your will for my life. Even if I don’t always grasp this on a daily basis, give me perseverance to continue this journey you have for me. You are my ALL AND ALL and I thank and praise you for loving me the way you do! I ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.


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DAY 23 – MAY 3

Tom Bernady

GALATIANS 2:20I myself no longer live, but Christ lives in me. So, I live my life in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Lord, I want to be ALL IN to serve you with all my heart with all my might and with all my strength. I want to be guns a blazing and take you wherever I go, knowing that you are standing next to me whenever I interact with others! I want you to be my WAY, my TRUTH and MY LIFE. In Jesus’ name. Amen.


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DAY 24 – MAY 4

Nathan & Katy Carlton

PHILIPPIANS 2:5-115 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. 6 Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. 7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, 8 he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. 9 Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Thank You for how clearly You have demonstrated Your love for us through what Jesus did in His life, death, and resurrection. You held nothing back when it came to saving us from sin and death, and because of that, we now live with the gift of being in relationship with You and with the hope of resurrection, both in this life and in the next. Now, as we seek to live into our congregation’s mission of “connecting people to Christ,” we ask that you would help us to have the same attitude that Jesus had. In the same way that He humbly set aside His divine privileges and characteristics, taking on the form of a servant to save us, help us to set aside our preferences and desires and to freely give of our time, our energy, and our resources so that we might see Your kingdom come and Your will be done in our community. We want to “go all in” so that our friends, family, neighbors, co-workers, and strangers would experience the power of Your love and grace. We pray that you would fill us with the Holy Spirit and give us the strength to live on mission. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.


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DAY 25 – MAY 5

Phil & Louisa Maas

MARK 14:36And he said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”

Dear Heavenly Father, Lord, thank you for all that You have provided for us. You sent Your Son so that we may GO all in. While all things are possible for You, we ask that You take our challenges and let us submit to Your will not ours. We know that all things are possible through You, that there is nothing too hard for You, and that we have hope in the eternal life You provide. While sin weakens us, overpowers us, and leaves us feeling unequipped, our hope rests in the suffering of Your son, Jesus Christ. Let us be prepared for the challenges You will put in our path. That through You, we accept Your challenges, grow with grace, share Your story, and GO all in. For it is in the Father’s Holy Name, we pray, amen.


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DAY 26 – MAY 6

Alex Strehle

ISAIAH 6:8And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.”

O Lord, who is like You? Who else is Holy, Holy, Holy? There is none like you for you are the LORD, the LORD. A God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. The mountains tremble at your majesty. May our hearts bow to your glory. Guide us and give our lips to speak “Here am I” when you call on us. Lord, help us to hear you and listen. Bring our feet to your calling and hands for your work. Lord, we cannot do this without your Spirit, uphold us! Our ears are turned towards You. Your will be done, O Lord, in Jesus name, amen.


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DAY 27 – MAY 7

Brad & Laura Thompson

MATTHEW 6:9-139 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

Dear Lord, thank you for giving us the Lord’s Prayer, for showing us how to pray, and for your assurance that we don’t have to have the perfect words. You know our hearts before we even speak a word. Thank you for the disciples and their boldness to ask how to pray and give us that same desire to seek you in prayer. Help us to understand and see the power that comes through prayer and your willingness to answer and meet us right where we are. May we surrender our lives to you and accept Your call for our lives and for Trinity Church, knowing how much you love us and that you have great things in store for us when we follow you. We want to open our hearts and lives to Your will and Your goodness. Amen.


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DAY 28 – MAY 8

Eli Thompson

LUKE 9:57-62“As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” He said to another man, “Follow me.” But he replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family.” Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”

Our Prayer:

“Jesus you are all that matters. Nothing in this world makes a difference besides exactly what you call us to. God, I am so sorry that I have sinned grievously by not abandoning the things of this world to chase after only you. I am sorry I have held so tightly to my family, my friends, my possessions, my own life, how I am perceived, and my personal comfort more tightly than I have held you. God, you call us to the plow to labor. Help us not to look back. Thank you so much that the power that raised Jesus from the grave goes behind and before us and is fused into our hearts. Embolden our lives. Lead us to cast off, with joy, the good things that we try to do to earn your love and instead receive in humility the Holy Spirit. Jesus, when you ask us to follow, leave no room for anything but yes or no. God, take away the complacency of a lukewarm Christian life and invigorate our spirits with yours. Draw us in to deep communion with you as we gradually release our hold on our sense of control of our lives and instead learn to trust you when you say, ‘Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you’. Lead us to be like you. We want to walk in your way, your real way. Let us surrender our desire for earthly praise and receive the mockery you endured. Let us surrender our comfortable lives and receive your crucifixion. Let us surrender our possessions and receive your life of scarcity and generosity. Let us surrender our control and receive your constant provision of our daily bread. Let us surrender our weakness and receive your strength that makes mountains rock and reel. Let us surrender our plans and receive yours that are higher than our understanding. Let us surrender ourselves and receive the fullness of who you are. God, we know there is no room for anything but 100% all in. God, help us fix our eyes firmly on you. You are worth too much for us to look back. You don’t promise us your way will be easy, comfortable, or even logical but you do promise it will be life to the absolute fullest, joy and peace beyond comprehension, and your very presence dwelling in us. We love you. Have your way. Amen.”

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WEEK 5 REFLECTION

GO Into Life

Bible reading: EPHESIANS 2:1-10 & PHILIPPIANS 1:3-6


• Pause and reflect on these truths from today’s readings about everyone who is in Christ:

• You are God’s workmanship, his unique creation.

• God has great love for you.

• Through Christ, God brought you from death to life.

• You are saved by grace through faith, not by works.

• You exist for a purpose.

• You are a work in progress.

• God’s work will continue until Jesus comes again.

• Did any of these truths speak to your soul?

• Do you have a hard team accepting and believing any of these truths?

Your life is not an accident. The Bible is a love story with a place for everyone. The main character is God, who has always existed in the perfect community of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. You are created out of God’s love and in his image for perfect relationship with God. When sin separated you from God, God extended mercy and grace through the work of Jesus to bring you back to him. In Christ you are forgiven. You are reconciled with God, and your relationship with God is restored. God delights in you; when he looks at you, he sees a masterpiece.

Nobody’s life is an accident. Everyone is made in the image of God for relationship with him. Some people have never heard this great news. Others don’t believe it; they find the story of God too good to be true. Still others have a hard time believing in a loving God because they have experienced judgment and even condemnation from Christians.

In response to God’s incredible love for you, your primary work as a Christian is to love God and show God’s love to others. You live out God’s purpose for you when you GO Into Life loving others with the love God has shown to you.

Think again about your one. Which of the above truths from the Bible does he or she need to experience? How can you help your one know that he or she is designed for relationship with God? How can Trinity support you in sharing the love of God?

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DAY 29 – MAY 9

George & Sue Beck

PHILIPPIANS 1:66 And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.

Dear Lord, we ask that you guide us as Christians and Americans, in this nation that you have so richly blessed, to continue to love one another and treat others how we want to be treated. Help us to show love in the face of attacks and persecution and to not be discouraged. We ask that you cause a change in others’ hearts as they witness our actions of love, faith, and good works and connect their hearts to Christ. We pray for a cure for Covid-19 so we can once again worship and fellowship with our brothers and sisters in Christ. Help us to encourage our fellow Christians to have hope and to remind everyone that the battle has already been won. And please encourage us all to have a spirit of forgiveness for each other. Amen.


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DAY 30 – MAY 10

Mark & Pam Frerichs

PHILIPPIANS 1:66 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

Please guide me to go forth with confidence in knowing that you who began good works in me will give me the strength to continue to perfect and complete my abidance in you until the day of salvation. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.


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DAY 31 – MAY 11

Rick & Nancy Noda

PHILIPPIANS 1:66 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.

Father God, thank you for your many gifts. You who began your good works in us and continue to be with us on our faith journey, I know will help us find our way. Everything is possible through Christ. As we go out into life and spread the Good News, guide us so that those who have not heard will hear. Thank you for your everlasting love and the gift of your grace. Amen.


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DAY 32 – MAY 12

Darrel & Ellen Smith

PHILIPPIANS 1:66 And I am sure that God who began the good work within you will keep right on helping you grow in his grace until his task within you is finally finished on that day when Jesus Christ returns.

Dear Heavenly Father, I thank you for the amazing work of grace you have placed in the soul of all believers. Open our hearts and minds that we may hear your voice and know your plans and desires for us. Show us the work you would have us do. Empower us to do your will. Allow us to make an impact in those around us, our community, that others will know it is not us but Christ living in us and his Spirit working through us. We are sure in knowing the good work you began in us will be made complete to our eternal benefit and your eternal praise. Amen.


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DAY 33 – MAY 13

Juli Staab

JOHN 10:10Go into Life

10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

Lord God, you are good and gracious, merciful and kind. When the devil does his work, he steals, kills and destroys. He takes from people love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness and self-control. No more! Father, close our ears to the voice of this thief. Remind us that you have overcome the world. Point us to the finished work of Jesus. Open our ears to the voice of your Son, the One who loves us so much that He took our sin and shame to the cross. Lord Jesus, thank you that through your death and resurrection we rise to new life, to whole life, to abundant life. We are empowered by the Holy Spirit to be your voice in this world. Encourage us to tell our stories. Ignite in us a passion for those who are being deceived and destroyed by the “thief.” Keep us from complacency. May we never settle; may we never give up. We hear your voice, God. Once we were dead, but now we live. We will go — to the young and to the old - and proclaim what you have done. We will GO into life! AMEN.


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DAY 34 – MAY 14

Gene & Mary Lou Wallin

PHILIPPIANS 1:66 I am sure that God Who began the good work in you will keep on working in you until the day Jesus Christ comes again.

Dear Lord,

Thank you for the blessings and faith you have given us. Help us remain focused on your will to see the path we should take. Please reduce the distractions we face that will turn us away from your will. Give us strength to support and encourage each other so that we can follow your example in life. Show us how we can use your good works to demonstrate our faith to others. We ask you to remain with us and support us with your Holy Spirit, until our time on earth is done. In your name we pray. Amen.


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DAY 35 – MAY 15

Lindsey Wilson

1 THESSALONIANS 5:1111 Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.

Heavenly Father, thank you for being an accepting and forgiving God. A God that wants everyone to love You just as you love everyone. Please help us to be more like you. Help us become more accepting, more compassionate and loving, so people will know that we are Christians by our love and want to be connected to You because of it. In Jesus name. Amen.


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WEEK 6 REFLECTION

GO Celebrate

Bible reading: LUKE 10:20 & LUKE 15:3-7

Luke 15 includes three stories Jesus shared with a similar plot. In each story, something valuable is lost, what’s lost is found, and there’s a big celebration. The stories are inspiring; the setting is significant. At this point in his ministry, Jesus was gaining quite a following. Some of the people drawn to Jesus were notorious sinners (as defined by the Jewish religious leaders of the day). The religious leaders didn’t like that Jesus associated with sinners, and they muttered their concern that Jesus was welcoming them and even sitting down to eat with them.

The stories of the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost (prodigal) son are Jesus’ response to the muttering of the religious leaders. Jesus’ stories indicate that there are no lost causes; no one is beyond the reach of God’s grace. Lost people matter to God. They’re valuable to him, he longs for them to return to him, and he celebrates when they find their way back to him.

Stop and think about this for a moment: there was a day when all of heaven celebrated your return to the Father. Heaven celebrated you. What a happy thought! Heaven’s celebration also comes with an important responsibility. When you follow Jesus, you become part of heaven’s search party. You are called to GO to those who don’t know Jesus, to show them the Father’s extravagant love, and to invite them into the abundant life they can have when they’re connected to Christ. When that happens, all of heaven will celebrate the day they came home to the Father. Let’s GO celebrate the life we have in Christ and invite more people to the party!


• Think about something you lost (phone, keys, favorite shirt). How did you feel? What did you do when you realized it was lost?

• Now think about a strained relationship in your life (past or present). If there’s been reconciliation, what was that like? If not, what is that experience like?

• Imagine God running to you! And wrapping you in his loving arms. And all of heaven celebrating that your name is written in heaven.

• Now imagine your one coming to Jesus. Picture the scene. How does it feel to you? How do you celebrate that moment?

• What’s the next step you will take to bring your one closer to the Father?

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DAY 36 – MAY 16

Lily Erb

LUKE 10: 17-2017 And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name. 18 And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. 19

Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. 20 Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.

Dear Lord, thanks for all you’ve done and for all the things you will continue to do for us. You made the ultimate sacrifice of your only son so that we could someday live with you in Heaven. You ask us to give our hearts and minds all to you but also to use the gifts you gave each of us to bring others closer to you. Help us to do so. Help us to help others as Jesus did. Help us to love our enemies as Jesus did. And help us to love ourselves as you love us. Amen.


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DAY 37 – MAY 17

Rudy & Marilyn Krueger

PSALM 118:24This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

ISAIAH 28:16Therefore thus says the Lord God, “Behold, I am the one who has laid as a foundation in Zion, a stone, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, of a sure foundation: ‘Whoever believes will not be in haste.’

LUKE 15:3-323 So he told them this parable: 4 “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? 5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ 7 Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

8 “Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it? 9 And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’ 10 Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

11 And he said, “There was a man who had two sons. 12 And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them. 13 Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. 14 And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 16 And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.

17 “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”’ 20 And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt

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compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. 23 And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. 24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.

25 “Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. 27 And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.’ 28 But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, 29 but he answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’ 31 And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32 It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’”

JOHN 3:1616 “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Our Father, God; Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer, we give thanks for Your unfailing love and presence in our lives. Today, as we complete our vision campaign, “GO,” look down on us with favor and send Your Holy Spirit to lift us up in celebration. As the psalmist so aptly said, “This is the day that the Lord has made; let us be glad in it.” SO, LET US CELEBRATE!

We think of the mothers giving birth, enduring pain and anxiety but rejoicing in the gift of a new life. When the foundation is laid for a new home or church, we can experience anxiety over paying for it, but we rejoice in the new structure that will house dreams and provide shelter and love. We think of astronauts sitting atop a mighty rocket and consider the magnitude of the endeavor but rejoice when there is lift off and orbit attained. We can visualize the challenges and possibilities in all these events, BUT WE CELEBRATE!

Now, Lord, stir our hearts to celebrate and rejoice in the possibilities for vision and mission. Long ago, the Psalmist and Isaiah prophesied about our cornerstone. We sing of him today. Jesus is our cornerstone, connecting us to our God, much as a building’s cornerstone forms the foundation and connection to the entire building.

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Lord, You spoke to us in the parable of the prodigal’s son. He was lost but returned to his father when he realized that he had made a terrible mistake. His father welcomed him with open arms and celebrated.

Lord, You spoke to us about searching for one lost coin and celebrating when it was found.

And You spoke to us about rejoicing after one lost sheep was found.

We have the most profound reason for celebrating — “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.”

“Was it a morning like this” when Jesus arose? And “Will I dance for you, Jesus? ... Sing Hallelujah? ... Surrounded by Your glory? ... I can only imagine!”

CELEBRATE, INDEED! GO TELL IT ON THE MOUNTAIN. SHARE THE GOOD NEWS.

Thank You, Lord, for loving me. Amen.


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DAY 38 – MAY 18

Les & Robin Lenz

PHILIPPIANS 4:44 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

Oh, Father God, each day I awake, I start my day totally amazed that each day, you have made just for me. I cannot help but rejoice, knowing that you know that I’m here to serve and show that I am your child. I love that each day you bring me opportunities to show people through the Holy Spirit that I live to serve You who deserves to be served and in return serve others. You know that is my passion that you have given me. At the end of each day, I hope and pray that tomorrow will come and I get to do it all over again, rejoicing what a wonderful Father God you are. In your blessed name I rejoice. Amen.

PSALM 89:1-8I will sing of the steadfast love of the Lord, forever; with my mouth I will make known your faithfulness to all generations. 2 For I said, “Steadfast love will be built up forever; in the heavens you will establish your faithfulness.” 3 You have said, “I have made a covenant with my chosen one; I have sworn to David my servant: 4 ‘I will establish your offspring forever, and build your throne for all generations.’” Selah 5 Let the heavens praise your wonders, O Lord, your faithfulness in the assembly of the holy ones! 6 For who in the skies can be compared to the Lord? Who among the heavenly beings is like the Lord, 7 a God greatly to be feared in the council of the holy ones, and awesome above all who are around him? 8 O Lord God of hosts, who is mighty as you are, O Lord, with your faithfulness all around you?

MATTHEW 9:35-38The Harvest Is Plentiful, the Laborers Few

35 And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. 36

When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; 38 therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”

Heavenly Father, Your faithfulness is true and so visible! You have poured out your steadfast love and blessings on Your sons and daughters at Trinity Church. Let us join Heaven in songs of praise of Your unending love for us, and may Your glory and light shine in all of Trinity’s generations, present and future. Help us to reflect that love and faithfulness as we go out into Your world to collect the harvest that You are growing. We pray and do all things in the victorious, loving name of Jesus, Your Son, our Lord. Amen.

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DAY 39 – MAY 19

Cindy Miller

PSALM 118:24 This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Glorious Lord Almighty, Your gracious gift of each day is overwhelming. We have done nothing to deserve this gift, yet you give it to us continually. Open our hearts to embrace your gift, allowing us to serve you each day. Sometimes the difficulties of a day cause us to be distracted from you. Gently remind us of the blessings of each day; our food, clothing, shelter, our loved ones and, most important, Your gracious mercy. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.


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DAY 40 – MAY 20

Matt & Victoria Tomanek

LUKE 10:17-2017 And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name. 18 And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. 19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. 20 Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.

PSALM 150:1-6Let Everything Praise the Lord

1 Praise the Lord! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens! 2 Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to his excellent greatness! 3 Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp! 4 Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe! 5 Praise him with sounding cymbals; praise him with loud clashing cymbals! 6 Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!

Praise the Lord!

Praise the Lord! Father God, we love you. We praise you for the blessings, the love that You have for us, and the sacrifice You gave for us. We thank You for coming as Your son, Jesus Christ, the One who saves us all. Lord, you have given us the power, through your Holy Spirit, to trample out evil and advance your Kingdom. Help guide us as Trinity Church to go out and be your disciples. Guide our words and our actions as we set out to help those who are lost or broken without You. Our names are written in heaven because of you, Jesus, living in our hearts and please help us to remember that it’s our job as Trinity Church to increase the number of names written in heaven. Jesus, You are the principal figure of the entire humanity and the world. You have conquered it all and have commanded us to tell our friends, family, neighbors and community so, Lord, help us be the church, the body of Christ to those around us.

Father, You have commanded us to rejoice and loudly praise your name and worship You. Lord, we praise You for the work You are doing through us. Lord, these are exciting times for us as a church and it’s so amazing that you chose us! You chose us to do your good works and to spread Your Good News! We celebrate the journey that Trinity Church has been on and now, Lord, please guide us as Trinity Church on the mission You have put in our hearts and set before us. We know with Your Holy Spirit power living in us we

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can succeed. We ask for You to help us GO be the church that loudly praises Your name throughout our community, connect people to Christ, and build Your Kingdom here! Praise the Lord! We love you Father. Amen.


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Keep GOing!Reflect on your relationship with Trinity.

• How did you first get connected? How have you grown as a follower of Jesus at Trinity? In what ways have you served at Trinity?

• What excites you about the future of God’s work at Trinity?

• How will you participate in Trinity’s ministry? What will you stop? What will you start? What else do you need to know?

• Who have you invited to Trinity? Who will you invite to Trinity?

• What have been some important insights and highlights for you in the GO campaign?

• How has the GO campaign stretched your faith?

• How is the GO campaign drawing you deeper into God’s work at Trinity? What hurdles do you face about being involved?

• What next step will you take as you GO in joyful obedience to God’s call for your life?

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Let’s GO Deeper into PrayerAs we look to the future at Trinity, we as a congregation, have an opportunity to build our prayer life as individuals and as this congregation. We believe God has plans He has yet to reveal for Trinity. By making prayer a priority, we will be surrendering ourselves to God’s Will and can then witness His most perfect plan.

Trinity friends, as we contemplate our prayer lives, let’s begin by praising our God…. for no matter how many times we have gone through feast or famine in prayer or how much we’ve succeeded or failed at prayer, God has never failed us. He’s accepted us as we are and keeps that arm extended from above, attempting to reach us and draw us closer to Him. As we’re all in Trinity’s GO journey now, maybe we can reach up to grab that hand together.

As children of God, we are to be as children, both when “living life” and in prayer. As Jesus modeled, He went to the Father for everything. He knew He could not live life without His Father and He stated this over and over. “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by Himself. He does only what He sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does.” (John 5:19)

The Father wants the same from us. We are to go to Him as a child, needy, overwhelmed, desperate, frightened, grateful. God wants us a relationship with His precious child and He desires for us to be authentic as we make Him the center of our lives. In Him, we have a Helper, Friend, Father, Guide, Wonderful Counselor, a Someone who has the perfect answer to everything. Let’s continue trying to follow in our Lord’s footsteps as we attempt to be more like Christ.

With our mission of “connecting people to Christ,” prayer is so extremely important. As we simply do life together with our “ones,” we seek to have God guide us in the right time to share our faith. We pray daily and expectantly for this person and then watch God work. As one saying goes, “When people work, people work. When people pray, God works.” Since some of us have attempted to not only plant the seed but then water it continuously, we have hindered the work of our God. Let’s try hard not to make that mistake. A commitment we could all make when praying for our one would be to then pray for the ones of the other members of Trinity. Imagine this! God would hear several hundred prayers daily for each and every “one” at Trinity.

One thing we know from history, prayer is powerful! When George Washington prayed to Jesus for protection, he was unharmed although two horses were killed from under him. As he removed his jacket after that same battle, he found four bullet holes in the front of it. Had Jesus heard his prayer? If the only strength we have is for one word in prayer, make that word “Jesus.” If anything could alert God’s mighty forces into action, this would be the Word. “Therefore, God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every other name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth…and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:9-11 NIV)

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“Oh, Lord, You are an AWESOME God. Please lead and motivate us to make changes, Lord, not begrudgingly but with anticipation for what is to

come, and such exciting things they could be. ONLY YOU KNOW. Yes, help us pray with motivation and expectation, surrendering always to Your Will.

Oh, we continue thinking of the stories You’ve written when utilizing flawed humans to impact the world through prayer and know they would make the

best mini-series ever, God. Many are untold, known only by You. Many are known and nothing less than astounding …. General Patton’s prayer for good weather,

the prayer of Hannah for a son, thus giving birth to Samuel, the prayers of a small church in Germany for 40 years and a wall coming down in 1989, prayers of Helen Keller, Abraham Lincoln, Corrie ten Boom and so many more. You heard them all and moved mightily, Lord. For all these things, we thank You. Help us imagine the

impact we could make in this community if we made prayer a real priority like those you used to change the world before us, Lord. Please guide us forward.

We’re reminded of the men You chose in forming this country, our Founding Fathers. These Founders were predominantly strong Christians, their numerous writings greatly

revealing their faith in You. They relied mostly upon Your Words from the Bible and sermons to write the Declaration of Independence and Constitution. They sought

you daily. When they got “stuck” and couldn’t move forward with success, Benjamin Franklin advised they needed a break, and where should they go? To church, to pray! It worked! Oh, Lord, it’s because of YOU this country was formed. It’s because of YOU that it became the greatest nation this world has ever known. It’s because of YOU we live in this country. It’s because of You Trinity is now a beacon on the hill. It’s because

of YOU we have the freedom to GO and tell others the Good News. It’s because of You that Trinity could be the church that changes a community like no other, all because of its commitment to prayer. When we think of these prayer warriors, please help us

say, “I want to be like that! I want to PRAY like that!” Please make it happen, Lord.

Oh, God, Creator of the universe, help us to become more like our Founders, like Your servants of the Bible, and all those in history who called upon Your Name as we seek You and attempt to be more like Christ. Help us realize we could be used for Your Glory. Oh, Lord, do help us to pray as You desire. Help us in our journey to connect our “ones” to

Christ and hundreds, if not thousands, of “ones” beyond that. You’ve given us a mission field just ripe for the planting and watering, Lord. Help us to pray fervently and often

so Your Will on this earth be done. Yes, help us GO and connect people to Christ, Lord.

May Your Name be praised the world over!

It’s in the precious Name and blood of Your Son, we pray, Lord. Amen.”

Into Prayer

Into Community

Connect People to Christ

40 days of devotions - trinitylife.org

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